HATING HEIDI FOSTER is a stunning young adult novel is an intense and emotional tear-jerker. It is the story of two friends torn apart by circumstance and their struggle through grief and adolescence.

Mae and Heidi were the epitome of the phrase Best Friends Forever. Or so everyone thought. It all comes crashing down when Mae's father loses his life by saving Heidi's. Heidi is ravaged with guilt, but Mae turns on her, placing all the blame on Heidi and resenting her own father for what he did. Can anything bring things two heartbroken girls back together again?

HATING HEIDI FOSTER is truly a character driven story. The two main girls are exquisitely layered and their personalities expertly crafted. They really do jump right off the page. I felt so deeply connected to them and their issues that I couldn't stand to see the book end. But when it did end - wow, what an amazing and gripping story.

I really feel like that the voice was so true to the teen experience. Dealing with grief such as this can be a terrifying and awkward experience for young people who often don't know how to handle it. HATING HEIDI FOSTER really illustrates this and gives a voice to so many of the issues that arise as a result of these kinds of harrowing circumstances.

This coming-of-age story about young people and how they deal with their pain really hit home. The pain on the pages of this book is raw and real, so much so that you can almost touch it. You'll definitely feel it pulling at your heart strings.

I think that many people will really enjoy it as much as I did. Jeffery Blount has created an authentic and gorgeously realized story that's so full of emotion. I certainly recommend picking this one up and can't wait to see more from this outstanding author.